Seven dogs found dead in Halifax house fire on New Year's Day

Two people may have been spared from a house fire that broke out in their Halifax home on New Year’s Day, but seven dogs were found dead in the basement of the home.

By Dafney Tales

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Dafney Tales

Posted Jan. 4, 2014 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 4, 2014 at 4:01 AM

By Dafney Tales

Posted Jan. 4, 2014 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 4, 2014 at 4:01 AM

HALIFAX

» Social News

Two people may have been spared from a house fire that broke out in their Halifax home on New Year’s Day, but seven dogs were found dead in the basement of the home.

Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a house fire that sent two people to the hospital and killed the dogs.

According to reports from the Halifax Police Department, seven dogs were found dead inside the single-family residence at 27 Clyde O. Bosworth Road.

The fire started about 7:17 a.m. Wednesday, officials said.

According to a police report, the homeowner, who was later identified by a neighbor as William Ohara, reported the fire and that he, and his wife, Anne, were able to escape.

Ohara also reported that several dogs remained in the basement, according to the police report. When firefighters arrived, they saw heavy smoke coming from all corners of the house, and then found flames billowing in the basement, where officials believed the fire started.

The couple suffered smoke inhalation and were taken by ambulance to Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital.

Their injuries were non life-threatening, fire officials said.

Officials estimated more than $100,000 in damages to the two-story colonial.

Meanwhile, animal control officers with the Halifax Police Department pulled seven dogs from the basement and placed them inside a shed behind the residence, the report states.

Multiple calls to Halifax Animal Control Officer Noreen Callahan, who had responded to the call that day, went unanswered last night.

When authorities responded, the American Red Cross responded to assist the occupants, who were outside of the house when firefighters arrived.

Firefighters used multiple hoses through the bulkhead and side of the house to extinguish the fire within about an hour.

Hanson, East Bridgewater and Pembroke provided mutual aid to Halifax.

The fire is being investigated by the Halifax Fire Department and the state Fire Marshal’s office.

Reporter Maria Papadopoulos contributed to this report. Dafney Tales may be reached at dtales@enterprisenews.com.